Training Log Archive: IanW

Day for a lie-in, was thinking about going out on the bike but didn't in the end. However, it now has a bracket on the garage wall to sit on.

Event: Maize Maze O
 

Maize Maze - qualifier course 2. Reckon this was the harder of the two courses, especially if doing it first. The drizzle had started and made the dry earth very slick on top, which slowed things down considerably on the numerous corners.

First up it was more of a learning process than a race - working out the general layout of the maze, and more importantly, how parts of the maze were isolated from others and what the key access points were. Was obvious from early on that the bridges were both useful navigational features and key junctions.

No problems early, trying to pause at each control to work out the route to the next. The tricky route finding/route choice from #4 to 5 caught me out, first route I saw was going via 7 rather than 6 - lost 45" here. Ran straight past #9 into the open area beyond, and must have gone a long route round to 13 as split is so far down on everyone else...

29/105 - GPS distance 2.41km

Maize Maze - Qualifier Course 1. A bit of experience, and some confirmation of routes/accessibility using the maps in the start lane made this feel far easier.

Saw the route to 3 via 10 early, but too slow realising 6 was on top of the bridge, and an extra loop to #7 after getting the wrong path under the bridge. Lost 20"+ to #9 as didn't see the flag straight off and went back to check out another dead-end before realising was right first time round... Careful to get the right path to #16, and now knew the best route 17-18. Still a bit slippery underfoot in places.

11/100 - GPS distance 2.46km

Maize maze A final. Added complication of it being in the dark, main problems were seeing some of the gaps, and you didn't see the corners as far in advance.

By far the scrappiest run of the lot - felt confident on the general layout of the maze, but it seemed there wasn't as much opportunity to look at the map, and the now dry ground meant faster running. Should have taken a bit more time to sort out routes rather than tearing off...

First few felt relatively simple, then ran past the junction to #6 and a little hesitant to 8 (on top of bridge) and 9. Fast running through to 15, where I'd caught Helen, then lots of minor bobbles/route choice. Lost time on exit from 15 (10"), hesitant to 18, almost running down wrong path(10"), wrong bridge underpass to 19 (15"), misread location of 20 (10") and missed junction to 21, deciding to turn back (20").

Great fun, a great challenge (more so than the Barbican!) - congrats to Stodgetta and co for coming up with the idea! If only the maze had been a bit bigger, parts could have been saved for the finals to make it even more challenging!

Finished 7th/32, GPS distance 2.9km

A Final - Splits

This week's not conducive to training - teaching at various points between 9am and 8pm, and trying to fit everything else in between...